Imam Feisal Rauf On Ground Zero Mosque Opposition

Imam Feisal Rauf On Ground Zero Mosque Opposition – Imam Feisal Rauf, the man behind the planned Cordoba House Muslim Centre, which is proposed to be near the scene of the 9/11 attacks, has spoken out about what the effects would be if America were to disallow the building of this centre.

In a rare interview, the Imam spoke candidly about the Cordoba House, and in regards to the proposed Quran burnings, and what affects they would have for America, which is currently in the process of removing its troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“My major concern with moving it is that the headline in the Muslim world will be ‘Islam is under attack in America,'” said Rauf. “This will strengthen the radicals in the Muslim world, help their recruitment, this will put our people — our soldiers, our troops, our embassies, our citizens — under attack in the Muslim world and we [would] have expanded and fuelled terrorism.”

The Imam claims this is not a threat, but the reality of the Muslim world view. According to him, they do not view an event such as this as a small thing, and see it as an intolerance and an act of aggression towards them. In regards to a tweet made by Sarah Palin that spoke of ‘peaceful’ Muslims disregarding the building of the mosque. Rauf’s reply was he feels there is a “growing Islamophobia in this country.”

“How else would you describe the fact that mosques around the country are now being attacked? We are Americans, too. We are treated and talked about today as if American Muslims are not Americans. We are Americans. We are doctors. We are investment bankers. We are taxi drivers. We are store keepers. We are lawyers. We are part of the fabric of America. And the way that America today treats its Muslims is being watched by over a billion Muslims worldwide.”

Lastly, on the proposed Quran burnings, the Imam said “[The Quran burnings] would have created a disaster in the Muslim world. It would have strengthened the radicals, it would have enhanced the possibility of terrorist acts against America and American interests.”